Keeper’s dream
An immediate, personal hook and flexible structure make it easy to prep and run.
Theft at the Peabody
A daring museum heist, a string of brutal murders, and a desperate race to save an innocent life — set in Cambridge, Massachusetts and built for modern 7th edition Call of Cthulhu.
Theft at the Peabody expertly blends classic investigation with high-stakes action and supernatural intrigue. Every location — the crime-ridden museum, a blood-soaked apartment, a shadowy airport warehouse — offers multiple pathways, clues, and roleplay opportunities.
Built as a Keeper-friendly scenario with emotional hooks, modular locations, and tragic antagonists, it’s ready to run as a one-shot or the start of an undead-flavored campaign arc.
Emotional stakes
A beloved NPC’s corpse is found at the crime scene, driving players to care.
Modular design
Open-ended structure lets you tailor the pacing to forensic, social, or action-heavy play.
Keeper-ready
Detailed handouts, evocative maps, pre-gens, and a timeline tracker included.
Fingerprints from the dead. A friend who won’t stay buried. A city that doesn’t realize something is walking in its skin.
A case that starts at the grave
The scenario begins with a series of bizarre burglaries in Rochester tied to fingerprints that belong to people already deceased. When a beloved NPC’s recently buried corpse is found at a murder scene, the investigation becomes painfully personal.
From that moment, the investigators are driven to uncover how the impossible is happening and who is responsible for turning the dead into tools.
The scenario flow
Impossible Evidence
The investigators are drawn in by the impossible fingerprint match and the discovery of their dead friend’s body at a fresh crime scene.
The Investigation
The museum, a blood-soaked apartment, a criminal network, and an airport warehouse open up as investigation sites.
The Funeral Director
Rodney Shakely’s involvement and the scope of his forbidden rites become clear as the investigators close in.
Resolution
The investigators must stop the shaman and save an innocent life before the clock runs out.
Call of Cthulhu 7e
Modern-day 7th edition with support for forensic, social, and action-oriented play styles.
Play-ready package
Full scenario, detailed handouts, evocative maps, five pre-gens, and a timeline tracker.
What keepers get
Full Keeper support
Scene notes, pacing guidance, and a timeline tracker keep the pressure high throughout.
Tragic antagonists
Rodney Shakely and his reanimated assistants are more than monsters; they’re shaped by grief and obsession.
Handouts and maps
Detailed location handouts and evocative maps ground the investigation in Cambridge.
Flexible structure
Modular design supports one-shots or weaves into a larger campaign with ease.
Pre-generated investigators
Five richly connected characters — a PI, occultist, fence, doctor, and engineer — ready to play.
Campaign hooks
Plenty of hooks for ongoing stories and recurring villains at the end of play.
Inside the book
Scenario Content
- Cambridge, MA modern-day setting
- Scene-by-scene Keeper breakdowns
- Branching investigative structure
- Timeline tracker for pacing
Characters
- Five pre-generated investigators
- PI, occultist, fence, doctor, engineer
- Rich interconnected backstories
- Fully realized suspect NPCs
Handouts & Maps
- Location notes for homes, cemetery, and funeral home
- Crime scene and autopsy documents
- Evidence and recovered item lists
- Table-ready materials to drop in front of players
Keeper Tools
- Timeline tracker
- Pacing and tension guidance
- Moral dilemma support
- Campaign and recurring villain hooks
Who this is for
- Keepers who want a modern heist-meets-horror scenario with real investigative depth.
- Groups that enjoy forensic puzzles, social encounters, and tense action.
- Tables that like interconnected pre-gens and personal stakes.
- Players who want a scenario that rewards creative thinking at every turn.
Content note: This scenario contains murder, theft, criminal activity, supernatural horror, and occult themes. It is intended for mature players and Keepers who are comfortable with modern horror and moral complexity.
The theft was just the beginning.
Theft at the Peabody gives you a complete modern Call of Cthulhu scenario built around impossible evidence, personal stakes, and a haunting investigation your table won’t forget.